Jesus Teaches About Widow's Mite Giving
Jesus' teaching about the widow's mite, recorded in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4, highlights a profound principle concerning sacrificial giving and God's evaluation of generosity. The account describes Jesus observing people contributing to the temple treasury [1, 2]. He saw many rich individuals casting in large sums. Then, a poor widow approached and put in two small copper coins, known as mites, which together amounted to a farthing [2].
Jesus called his disciples to him and declared, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury" [1]. He explained that while the rich gave out of their abundance, she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on [1]. This pronouncement revealed a radical difference between Jesus' perspective and worldly thinking [10]. While no one would have honored the widow for such a small material contribution, Jesus and his Father look at the heart of the giver, not merely the size of the gift [10]. This act of the widow mirrored what Jesus had instructed the rich young ruler to do (Mark 10:21) and what he taught his disciples about self-sacrifice (Mark 1:18, 20; 8:34-37; 10:28-29) [10]. Like the woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume (Mark 14:3-9), the poor widow demonstrated a profound love for God with all her being [10].
The setting for this teaching was the temple treasury, where thirteen chests were designated for various offerings, including voluntary oblations and specific sacrifices [9]. Matthew Henry notes that this passage, recorded in Mark and Luke but not Matthew, emphasizes that "charity to the poor is a main matter in religion" [5, 6]. Jesus used every opportunity to commend and recommend it [5]. Henry also suggests that this story might serve as an aggravation of the scribes' behavior, who "devoured poor widows' houses" (Mark 12:38), implying that these poor widows were often the most generous contributors to the public funds that the scribes managed [5, 9].
The widow's act of giving "two mites, which make a farthing" (Mark 12:42) signifies a complete surrender of her financial resources [2]. A mite, or lepton, was the smallest Jewish coin, and two of them made a quadrans, a Roman farthing [7]. John Gill describes her as a "poor widow," having no husband to support her and no inherited substance [7]. Her poverty made her gift particularly significant in Jesus' eyes.
The theological implications of this teaching extend beyond mere financial giving. It underscores the principle that the value of a gift is determined not by its absolute amount but by the proportion it represents of the giver's resources and the spirit in which it is given [1, 10]. This contrasts with the outward show of the wealthy, who gave much but retained much more [1]. Jesus' observation highlights that God values sacrificial giving that comes from a heart devoted to Him, even if the material amount is small [10].
This narrative is not presented as a parable in the traditional sense, though Jesus frequently taught through parables such as the sower, the mustard seed, and the leaven [4]. Instead, it is a direct observation and interpretation of a real-life event, used by Jesus to instruct his disciples [1, 10]. The lesson is clear: God's assessment of generosity differs from human assessment. While humans might be impressed by large donations, God looks at the heart and the sacrifice involved [10].
The emphasis on the widow's poverty and her complete giving resonates with other biblical themes of God's care for the vulnerable and the importance of radical discipleship. The Old Testament, for instance, frequently mentions the special status and protection afforded to widows [3]. Jesus' commendation of the widow's offering aligns with his broader teachings about prioritizing spiritual values over material wealth and the call to give one's all to God [10].
The story also serves as a reminder that Jesus is attentive to the actions of individuals, even those seemingly insignificant in the eyes of the world [6]. He "has his eye upon us, to observe what we give to the poor, and what we contribute to works of piety" [6]. This divine observation is not merely for judgment but also for commendation and instruction, as seen in his immediate call to his disciples to explain the significance of the widow's act [1, 10].
The concept of sacrifice in giving is a recurring theme in Christian theology. Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, discusses how a sacrament can have the effect of a sacrifice in the offerer [8]. While he is speaking specifically about the Eucharist, the principle of an offering having a spiritual effect on the giver is relevant. The widow's offering, though small in monetary terms, was a complete sacrifice, and thus, profoundly impactful in its spiritual significance [1, 10].
The narrative of the widow's mite stands as a powerful testament to the spiritual principle that true generosity is measured by sacrifice, not by the size of the gift. It challenges believers to consider the heart behind their giving and to emulate the widow's radical devotion, offering their all to God, regardless of their material circumstances [1, 10].
Sources
- Mark “Mark 12:43 (BSB) — Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury.”
- Mark “Mark 12:42 (ASV) — And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Woman — Was "taken out of man" (Gen. 2:23), and therefore the man has the preeminence. "The head of the woman is the man;" but yet honour is to be shown to the wife, "as unto the weaker vessel" (1 Cor. 11:3, 8, 9; 1 Pet. 3:7). Several women are mentioned in Scripture as having been endowed with prophetic gifts, as Miriam (Ex. 15:20), Deborah (Judg. 4:4, 5), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Noadiah (Neh. 6:14), Anna (Luke 2:36, 37), and the daughters of Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:8, 9). Women are forbidden to teach publicly (1 Cor. 14:34, 35; 1 Tim. 2:11, 12). Among the He”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Parables — Remarkable Parables of the Old Testament -- Jdj 9:8-15; 2Sa 12:1-4; 14:5-7. Parables of christ Wise and foolish builders. -- Mt 7:24-27. Children of the bride chamber. -- Mt 9:15. New cloth and old garment. -- Mt 9:16. New wine and old bottles. -- Mt 9:17. Unclean spirit. -- Mt 12:43. Sower. -- Mt 13:3-23; Lu 8:5-15. Tares. -- Mt 13:24-30,36-43. Mustard-seed. -- Mt 13:31,32; Lu 13:19. Leaven. -- Mt 13:33. Treasure hid in a field. -- Mt 13:44. Pearl of great price. -- Mt 13:45,46. Net cast into the sea. -- Mt 13:47-50. Meats defiling not. -- Mt 15:10-15. Un”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 21:1: This short passage of story we had before in Mark. It is thus recorded twice, to teach us, 1. That charity to the poor is a main matter in religion. Our Lord Jesus took all occasions to commend it and recommend it. He had just mentioned the barbarity of the scribes, who devoured poor widows (ch. 20); and perhaps this is designed as an aggravation of it, that the poor widows were the best benefactors to the public funds, of which the scribes had the disposal. 2. That Jesus Christ has his eye upon us, to observe what we give to the poor, and what we contribute to work”
- Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 12:41: This passage of story was not in Matthew, but is here and in Luke; it is Christ's commendation of the poor widow, that cast two mites into the treasury, which our Saviour, busy as he was in preaching, found leisure to take notice of. Observe, I. There was a public fund for charity, into which contributions were brought, and out of which distributions were made; a poor's-box, and this in the temple; for works of charity and works of piety very fitly go together; where God is honoured by our worship, it is proper he should be honoured by the relief of his poor; and w”
- Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 12:39: And there came a certain poor widow,.... Among the many that came to offer their gifts freely, there came one that was particularly taken notice of by Christ; and she was a "widow", had no husband to provide for her, and was a "poor" one; had no substance left her by her husband to support her with; very likely she was an inhabitant of Jerusalem: and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing; a "quadrant", which was the fourth part of the Roman assis, or farthing; which seems to be much the same with the of the Greeks, which is said (g) to be, "the fourth part ”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Effects of This Sacrament, Art. 5: Article: Whether the entire punishment due to sin is forgiven through this sacrament? I answer that, This sacrament is both a sacrifice and a sacrament. it has the nature of a sacrifice inasmuch as it is offered up; and it has the nature of a sacrament inasmuch as it is received. And therefore it has the effect of a sacrament in the recipient, and the effect of a sacrifice in the offerer, or in them for whom it is offered. If, then, it be considered as a sacrament, it produces its effect in two ways:”
- Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 12:38: Which devour widows' houses,.... See Gill on Mat 23:14. . Mark 12:41 mar 12:41 mar 12:41 mar 12:41And Jesus sat over against the treasury,.... the Arabic version reads, "at the door of the treasury"; the place where the chests stood, into which money was put for various uses: there were thirteen chests in the temple (d); six of them were, for voluntary oblations, or freewill offerings; for what remained of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the turtles; for those that had fluxes, and for new mothers; and of the sacrifices of the Nazarite, and of ”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 12:43: 12:43-44 Jesus called his disciples to hear his teaching (see 3:23; 6:7; 8:1; 10:42; see also 7:14; 8:34). Jesus’ pronouncement in 12:43 revealed a radical difference between his thinking and that of the world. No one would have named a building after the widow for her gift of two small coins, but Jesus and his Father look at a person’s heart (1 Sam 16:7). The widow was doing exactly what Jesus told the rich young ruler to do (Mark 10:21) and what he taught his disciples (1:18, 20; 8:34-37; 10:28-29). Like the woman of 14:3-9, the poor widow loved God with all her ”